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Bill environmentalists say could keep Missouri coal plants open signed by governor
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Wednesday signed legislation environmentalists fear will chip away at a year-old state law meant to encourage utilities to retire polluting coal plants. One of the state’s largest utilities says the law is simply cleanup language. Last year, Missouri and Kansas enacted laws allowing electric utilities to “securitize” aging coal plants […]
Kansas City moves ahead with study of massive solar farm at KCI airport
Thousands of undeveloped acres near Kansas City International Airport could one day house one of the nation’s largest airport solar farms, capable of powering as much as one-third of Kansas City’s homes. Kansas City has completed a feasibility study that outlines steps and challenges to bring a utility-scale solar farm to KCI. In the coming […]
Missouri ranks 7th in electric vehicle use, but access to charging remains a key barrier
This story was originally published by the Kansas City Beacon. Beto Lugo-Martinez is a grassroots activist who advocates for clean air. A big part of his work is fighting the expansion of “gas guzzling” vehicles and making sure that historically underserved communities receive infrastructure updates, partly to encourage driving an electric vehicle in Kansas City. […]
Missouri environmentalists worry bill undermines law meant to boost renewable energy
Environmental advocates are raising concerns that a Missouri law enacted last year to speed up utilities’ transition to renewable energy may soon be changed to make it easier for companies to keep coal plants partially open. Last year, Missouri and Kansas enacted laws allowing electric utilities to “securitize” aging coal plants and retire them early […]
Ameren Missouri to acquire its largest solar farm to date
Despite plans to invest in its largest solar facility ever, it’s unclear whether Ameren Missouri will keep up with ambitious goals for investments in renewable energy over the next few years. Ameren is working to purchase a solar farm under development in southern Illinois for use by its Missouri customers. The electric utility, the largest […]
Bill would block Missouri cities, counties from enacting EV charging station mandate
A Republican lawmaker is seeking to undercut efforts by officials in the St. Louis area to build more electric vehicle charging infrastructure in preparation for the move away from gasoline-burning cars. Both St. Louis and St. Louis County passed ordinances last year requiring businesses to prepare for electric vehicle charging. The city’s ordinance also has […]
Kansas City declared a climate emergency. Now what?
This story was originally published by The Kansas City Beacon. It’s been 13 years since Kansas City passed its first climate protection plan. At the top of the list: drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Now the city is preparing a new plan, and emission reductions remains a focus. In 2008, the city set a goal […]
Missouri’s largest wind farm isn’t running at night for fear of killing endangered animals
Every night for months, turbines at Missouri’s largest wind farm sit idle to avoid killing endangered and threatened bats. And now, as the wind farm’s owner, Ameren Missouri, seeks permission to increase customers’ rates, consumer advocates are sounding the alarm. They argue customers shouldn’t have to pay the full costs of the wind farm on […]
Cost of winter cold snap nears $1B for Kansans. Missouri tally remains unclear
KANSAS CITY — The total cost from a more than week-long cold snap that brought the Midwest power supply to the brink of collapse is nearly $1 billion — and growing. The greatest breakdown during the storm, which forced controlled electrical blackouts in Kansas and Missouri, industry groups have said, was natural gas, which was […]
Federal infrastructure bill will likely trigger job growth in Missouri’s clean energy industry
This story was produced by Missouri Information Corps. President Joe Biden’s $1 trillion bill targeted at revamping the country’s infrastructure could create jobs for Missourians in the state’s booming renewable energy sector. The Senate approved Biden’s sweeping infrastructure legislation Wednesday after months of negotiations, marking a bipartisan victory for leaders in Washington. The bill adds $550 […]